Automatic window lock



Dec. 7, 1965 e. E. HAUSFELD AUTOMATIC WINDOW LOCK Filed Sept. 24, 1965INVENTOR. GERALD E. HAUSFELD.

ATTORNEY 3,222,098 Patented Dec. 7, 1965 3,222,098 AUTOMATIC WIYDOW LOCKGerald E. Hausfeld, Union Lake, Mich. (10325 Highland Road, Milford 2,Mich.) Filed Sept. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 311,099 1 Claim. (Cl. 292173) Thisinvention relates to locks and more particularly to a lock for slidingwindows which is automatically actuated by translation of the window toits normal closed position.

Sliding window assemblies are normally locked in closed position bymeans of an independent lock mechanism located adjacent the center barof the assembly. Thus closing and locking of a Window are actuallyindependent operations. As a result, windows are often inadvertentlyleft closed but unlocked, creating a substantial risk of theft.

In addition, the task of locking the window is a tedious one andtherefore it is often avoided until the occupant of the room or buildingprepares to leave the area unattended. He then proceeds from window towindow, locking each in turn. Such a procedure is obviouslytimeconsuming and inefiicient.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a lockmechanism which automatically locks the window when the window istranslated to its closed position.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention which will besubsequently described in detail, the lock is integral with a handlewhich is grasped in moving the window.

The handle is pin-connected to a spring-loaded locking bolt whichnormally engages an opening in a fixed memher in the window. The handleis thus not hingedly connected in any manner to the retaining member ofthe window pane but is pivotably connected to the end of the bolt. Whenthe handle is pivoted about the point of contact between one of itscorners and the adjacent retaining member, the bolt is retracted axiallyfrom the adjacent fixed member, thus releasing the window fortranslational movement. When the window is translated again to itsclosed position, the spring pressure automatically returns the bolt toits locking position in the fixed member.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide anautomatic lock for sliding window assemblies which is actuated bytranslating the window to its closed position, which is simple tomanufacture and is low in cost.

A further object is to provide a lock for sliding window assemblies inwhich the bolt is moved axially between closed and open positions by apivoting motion of the lock handle.

Another object is to provide such a lock in which the handle ispivotably connected to the bolt member rather than hinged upon aretaining member of the window pane.

Another object is to provide such a lock which is adaptable -to a widevariety of sliding window assemblies.

Another object is to provide a lock of this type whereby the window maybe unlocked and translated in one operation.

Other objects and advantages will be more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention. The description makes reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present lock incorporated in ahorizontal insulating window assembly;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 22 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is the sectional view shown in FIGURE 2 with the bolt andhandle in retracted position for unlocking the assembly.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURE 1 shows a Window assemblyincluding a horizontal header member 10, horizontal sill member 12, andvertical jamb members 14 connecting the header and sill members at theirends. A vertical locking member or center bar 15 is fixed between theheader and sill members intermediate the vertical jamb members 14.

A track 16 is provided along the inside of the header and sill members.A pair of parallel glass panes 18 is supported in vertical retainingmembers 20 and horizontal retaining members 22 in spaced-apart relationto form an insulating window. These panes are adapted to slidehorizontally along the track 16.

A second pair of spaced-apart glass panes 24 is fixed between the headerand sill members 10 and 12 and the center bar 15 at one end of theassembly. In this manner the fixed panes 24 occupy the left half of thewindow assembly as shown in FIGURE 1 while the movable panes 18 areslidable horizontally along the track 16.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3-, the left vertical retaining member 20includes a strip 26 extending parallel to the edges of the panes 18, anda bolt guide 28 connected to the strip 18. The bolt' guide iscylindrically shaped with a first opening 30 adjacent the center bar 15,and a second opening 32 opposite the first opening.

A bolt 34, having a head portion 36 and a shank portion 38, extendsthrough the second opening 32 into the bolt guide 28. The head portion36 of the bolt includes a projecting lip 40 and normally extends throughthe first opening 30 in the bolt guide 28. A coil spring 42 is disposedbetween the inner surface of the bolt guide and the head portion of thebolt so as to normally maintain the bolt in this extended or lockingposition.

A handle 44 is positioned along the outer surface of the left verticalretaining member 20 adjacent the shank end of the bolt 34. The handleincludes a flange 48 which normally contacts a U-shaped portion 50 ofthe retaining member 20. The U-shaped portion 50 holds the adjacent pane18 in position as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The handle includes an opening 52 into which the bolt-shaped end 54 of apivot member 56 extends. A small pin 58 extends through matchingopenings in the handle and bolt-shaped end 50 and thus fixes the handleon the pivot member 56.

The pivot member 56 includes a quadrant-shaped portion 60 having a hole62. The shank portion 38 of the bolt 34 has a hole 64 adjacent its endand normally positioned above the hole 62. A pin 66 extends through theholes 62 and 64.

The center bar 15 includes an opening 68 which is located adjacent theopening 30 in the bolt guide 28 when the movable panes 18 are in theright-hand position shown in FIGURE 1. In this position the projectinglip 40 of the bolt extends into the opening 68, locking the movablepanes 18 against movement.

It can be seen that when the movable panes 18 are in the right-handposition as shown in FIGURE 1, the panes are locked in position. I Tomove the panes 18 to the left, the assembly is unlocked by pulling onthe handle 44. As shown in FIGURE 3, pulling the handle causes it topivot about the point of contact 70 between the handle and the strip 26.This movement of the handle moves the pivot member 56 in the samemanner, and consequently pulls the bolt 34 away from the center bar 15against the force of the spring 42. The head portion 36 of the bolt fitsloosely in the bolt guide 28 so as to permit the shank portion 38 f thebolt to move slightly in the lateral direction to the position shown inFIG- URE 3. Since the lip 40 no longer extends through the opening 68 inthe center bar 15, the panes 18 are then free to move horizontally.Whenever the panes 18 are returned to the right-hand position and thehandle released, the spring 42 will automatically cause the bolt to moveaxially forward and lock the panes 18 in place.

Although the present invention has been shown as incorporated in ahorizontal adjustable insulating window assembly, it should beunderstood that the present lock device may be employed in any type ofsliding window assembly wherein a window is to be translated manually toor from a lock position and independent locking means are not desirable.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A lock for a sliding window assembly having a rectangular fixed frameincluding a medial locking bar, a rectangular pane, retaining memberssurrounding said pane and slidable in said fixed frame between open andclosed positions respectively occupying opposite halves of said fixedframe and on opposite sides of said medial bar,

comprising:

(a) a bolt guide mounted midway along and within one of said retainingmembers, said last member substantially abutting said locking bar whensaid pane is in said closed position, said guide having an openingregistering with at least a portion of an opening in the adjacentlocking bar in the direction perpendicular to the plane of said pane;

(b) an elongated bolt extending in the direction perpendicular to theplane of said pane, the head of said bolt extending through said guideand having a lip engaging said opening in said locking bar when saidbolt is axially disposed in a forward position;

(c) spring means in said guide biasing said bolt axially toward saidforward position; and

(d) a handle disposed on the side of said retaining member away fromsaid locking bar, said handle being independent of said retaining memberand pivotally connected to the free end of said bolt, said handlecontacting said retaining member along a line perpendicular to anddisplaced from the axis of said bolt, said handle including aquadrant-shaped memher to which said bolt is pivotally connected, saidlast member normally projecting between said retaining member and saidpane, said line of contact between said handle and said retaining memberbeing substantially the center of the are formed along the face of saidquadrant-shaped member, and said bolt being retracted axially fromengagement with said locking bar by pivoting said handle about said lineof contact so that the surface of said quadrant moves against saidretaining member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 744,473 11/ 1903Buchanan 292173 2,600,483 6/1952 Colonna 292l73 2,835,934 5/ 1958Fra-nzblau et al 2052.2 2,920,358 1/1960 Woodard 20-52.8 2,953,824 9/1960 Minick 2011 3,050,322 8/ 1962 Miller 292-114 FOREIGN PATENTS1,227,432 3/1960 France.

405,216 2/ 1934 Great Britain.

M. HENSON WOOD, 1a., Primary Examiner.

THOMAS J. HICKEY, Examiner.

